NEWS FLASH
Blaze closes motorway
THE M62 motorway was closed between Junctions 8-9 near Warrington this afternoon when fire broke out in the trailer section of an articulated lorry. Dense smoke forced police to close both east and west-bound carriageways. Later the west-bound carriageway was re-opened but police still advised motorists to seek alternative routes.
Brave disabled man
defies knife thug
by David Skentelbery
A DISABLED man was threatened with a knife held to his throat after he had withdrawn money from a cash point at Warrington.
But the plucky 51-year-old ? who was in a mobility scooter ? refused to hand over any money and the offender fled empty handed after members of the public intervened.
The attempted robbery took place outside the Lloyds-TSB bank in Poplars Avenue, Orford.
Police are appealing for witnesses, in particular a woman who was seen arguing with the offender shortly before the incident.
The disabled man had just used the cash machine at the bank when he was confronted by the offender, who was riding a pedal cycle and who held a knife to his throat and demanded that he hand over money.
He refused and nearby members of the public came to his assistance. The offender made off along an alleyway at the side of the library in Poplars Avenue.
Although the victim was not hurt, he was badly shaken by the incident and members of the public stayed with him until police reached the scene.
Police say they are anxious to speak to anyone who witnessed the incident at about 10.30am on Sunday. In particular they would like to speak to a woman, aged about 25, with darkish blonde hair worn in a pony trail. She was also riding a pedal cycle.
The offender is described as being about 25, 5ft 10 inches tall and of skinny build with dark hair, dark eyes and a drawn face with prominent cheek bones. He had about a week?s growth of facial hair and was wearing a coat with a fur-lined hood.
Anyone who can help should call DC Stephen Hopkins on 0845 458 0000.
Bride-to-be juggles
study with business
by staff reporter
A BRIDE-to-be is juggling wedding plans with college studies and running a business.
Donna Barks, 31, studies one day a week at Warrington Collegiate and then runs her beauty salon, The Sanctuary, at Frodsham, Tuesday to Saturday.
When she?s not doing one or the other, she?s making arrangements for her wedding to fianc? Kevin Till.
Donna opened her salon just one year after taking the HNC level 4 foundation beauty course at the Collegiate.
But she has worked in the beauty business for seven years.
She said: “I had wanted to open my own place for a while now and my friends egged me on.
“I am in college on the Monday so I close the salon and then work from Tuesday to Saturday. It is great fun and I am really enjoying it.
“The last three weeks I have been fully booked.”
Kevin and all her family and friends are delighted at her success.
“They are just absolutely over the moon, just thrilled. It is still so unreal to me. It feels like I’m playing shop,” Donna added.
Anne Tabiner-Shaw, HNC beauty management course leader at the Collegiate, said students should take notice of Diana’s achievements.
She said: “We are really proud of her at college. She is doing so well and is a shining example to other students.”
Shopper threatened
by fleeing knifeman
by staff reporter
A MEMBER of the public was threatened with a knife when he attempted to stop a thief escape from a shop at Penketh, near Warrington.
The offender ran into the off-licence, leapt over the counter and demanded cash from a terrified woman assistant. She handed over some money and the thief ran off with this and some cigarettes.
A member of the public held the shop door shut in an attempt to stop the man escape but let him go when he was threatened with a knife.
Anyone who witnessed the offence on Saturday July 21 at about 9.15pm is asked to contact DC Mark Slaven on 0845 458 0000.
Help the environment –
by reading more books
by John Hendon
CHILDREN in Warrington can spend their summer holidays helping the environment – by reading more books.
Big Wild Read encourages children to read six or more books in exchange for ?tree tokens?, which will allow up to 20,000 new trees to be planted throughout the UK in autumn.
The scheme is taking place in the borough?s libraries until September 22 and is open to children aged 4-11 years.
Each youngster taking part will receive a folder with special ?scratch and sniff? stickers to collect during the summer, together with a packet of seeds that, if planted in early summer, will blossom by autumn.
Libraries staff will be on hand to help children complete the challenge, advising on the most suitable and interesting books, while a dedicated website will allow children to post reviews of the books they are reading and help them learn more about their favourite authors.
All challengers who successfully read six or more books will enter into a prize draw to win an I-pod and younger readers can take part in the Bookstart Bookcrawl, offering free books and certificates to pre-school children who use the library regularly.
The scheme, which is part of the ninth national Summer Reading Challenge, is run by the council in conjunction with the BBC?s Breathing Spaces initiative and The Woodland Trust?s Tree for All campaign.
Coun Sheila Woodyatt, the borough council?s executive ember for Children?s Services said: ?Encouraging children to read while helping the environment is a marvellous idea. It is vital that young people from all backgrounds continue to develop their skills and this initiative is a further proof that Every Child Matters in Warrington.?
Further information on The Big Wild Read, is available from Kathryn Payne on 01925 443232 or e-mail [email protected]
Shopping centre is
child safety zone
by staff reporter
WARRINGTON?S Golden Square Shopping Centre will become one of the first public areas in the country to introduce the Child Safety Zone scheme this Saturday, July 28.
Parents can shop with peace of mind by picking up a special brightly coloured wristband for their child and adding a mobile phone number for the centre to contact should the child become lost or separated.
In addition to the wristbands, an emergency helpline has been set up to connect panicking parents or passers-by who find a lost child to a trained member of staff who can help reunite children with their guardian.
Window stickers dotted all around the centre include the emergency number and advise shoppers how to use the scheme. Many will be placed at child-height so parents can teach children to be aware of how the scheme works in case they do get lost.
Ian Cox, marketing manager of Golden Square, said: “Customer security has always been a top priority for us and we are pleased to launch the Child Safety scheme as it will give further confidence to parents shopping in the centre.”
Golden Square also supports the Family Safe Holiday scheme by offering wristbands with a promotional code enabling families to set up an online deposit box to store all vital information before heading off on summer holidays.
For more information on both Child Safety Zone and Family Safe Holidays visit www.goldensquareshopping.co.uk
Romanian lorry
driver robbed
by staff reporter
A ROMANIAN lorry driver was robbed of cash and his passport when he pulled over for a rest break at Warrington.
Two men smashed his cab windows, threatened him with what appeared to be a handgun and stole his passport, some Romanian and UK currency and two mobile telephones.
Police are appealing for witnesses of the incident in Howley Lane at about 5.1
5pm on Saturday, July 21.
They have also issued advise to lorry drivers passing through the area that they should only pull over rest breaks in well lit, designated parking areas, preferably where other lorry drivers had also parked.
One of the attackers was a skinhead and was wearing a black anorak. The other had short, dark hair, was wearing jeans and was carrying a wrench.
A police spokesman said: ?We advise lorry drivers to park in well lit, designated parking areas where they are less likely to be a target for this kind of offender.?
Anyone who can help is asked to contact DS Dave Griffiths.
Man falsely claimed
?2,275 benefit
by court reporter
A WARRINGTON man who falsely obtained more than ?2,200 in benefit has been told he must repay the money.
Gary Cassell, 49, of Elmsett Close, Warrington, was also fined ?300 and ordered to pay ?85 costs when he appeared before magistrates.
He pleaded guilty to three charges of failing to declare a change of circumstances.
The court was told Cassell was found to have claimed job seekers allowance, housing benefit and council tax benefit totalling ?2,275.78 between March and June 2006, even though he had found work.
Adrian Webster, Warrington Borough Council?s benefits manager, said: ?Deliberately withholding information that affects your claim is stealing. That?s why we are targeting benefit thieves.
?Benefit thieves must realise that they cannot abuse the benefit system and steal from the rest of society. They are not just defrauding the Government, but their own tax paying neighbours and communities in Warrington.?
